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US EPA Sustainability

Decent Essays

Sustainability is the foundation upon which resilient and adaptive design was built. It “is based on a simple and long-recognized factual premise: Everything that humans require for their survival and well-being depends, directly or indirectly, on the natural environment” (Sustainability and the US EPA). Concern for the environment grew in the 1960’s, and after the creation of the EPA in 1970 the term sustainability came into use. “Sustainable development emerged as a result of significant concerns about the unintended social, environmental, and economic consequences of rapid population growth, economic growth, and consumption of natural resources.” (Sustainability and the US EPA). In the U.S., the history of sustainability is rooted in American …show more content…

The next generation born after WWII realized the impact of the actions of the generation before them and returned to the notion of valuing and protecting the environment, inciting more consideration for the environment on a governmental level. Then in 1969, one of the first big laws for sustainability in NEPA was enacted which required federal agencies to examine to the fullest extent possible the effect of their proposed buildings and infrastructure on the environment. One major part of NEPA was that Environmental Impact Statements (EIS) were to be created for each project that a firm was to participate in, explaining the effects they anticipated the project would have on the environment. These statements were made before the construction of the project began and to be kept in mind throughout the duration of the project. Unfortunately, there were issues with like how they could not “be full and fair if agencies fail to ‘[r]igorously explore and objectively evaluate’ impacts that will be regulated under other environmental laws,” (Langberg, …show more content…

Sustainability is based on designing for storms that have already happen. For example, a storm occurs and damage is done to a community. The community then decides to redesign a building that was ruined to withstand the storm that ruined it. This seems as though it could be logical, but it does not consider that the next storm will be greater than the last, as suggested by scientific trends about storm frequency and intensity (Blunden). Thus, it is noted that sustainability is almost solely dependent on historical accounts and records of the previous disasters putting the population, economy, and infrastructure at a deficit when it comes to preparedness for disasters. These issues are evident in FEMA flood mapping. Through the RiskMAP program, they “identify flood hazards, assess flood risks, and provide accurate data to guide stakeholders in taking effective mitigation actions that result in safer and more resilient communities,” (Flood Hazard Mapping…). The agency produces maps to “provide the basis for community floodplain management regulations and flood insurance requirements” based on various factors (Flood Hazard Mapping…). The

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